Single and in Debt Part 3- The problem of surplus and excess women

Butterfliesarepretty

Hi all well I was very upset last night about my dad and had a restless sleep with lots of dreams about arguments with my family.
Anyhow just got my csa payments schedule and I have arrears £169.99 even though I pay up monthly every month, anyhow it seems they have took it from when my salary changed in july so thats understandable so I have agreed to start paying it off early £120.10 reg mtce plus £80 for february (the schedule wanted me to pay it off from march in one lump sum) and then the rest of the arrears in marchs payment.
Have stopped my mortgage overpayment of £50 and also reduced my tesco cc payment to £44 from £80 a month.

Anyhow I have started now to write my credits debits and balance of account in my notebook like I used to to stop me spending.

Balance now (627.57) my overdraft is only £550.
Get paid 15/2/09 + £1000.17 = Balance of £274.60
minus all these
- £28.00 Gym
- £70.00 Council Tax
- £7.50 Broadband O2
- £7.70 Life Insurance
- £9.00 Bt Rental
- £17.61 Home Ins
- £247.66 Mortgage
- £44.00 Gas and Electric Scottish Power
- £8.00 Tesco Home Phone
- £200.10 CSA
- £6.50 Daughters savings plan
- £44.00 Tesco CC
- £12.12 TV Licence
- £13.60 Water
- £30.95 Car Insurance Cheque Last payment till ins renewal May 2010

So I am left with (374.14) balance and my overdraft is 550.00 so got to spend on petrol, stay in every night, and cut down on food.

So today been busy trying to sort my finances out. I am scared of running out of money. I have my daughter for three days from wed next week so can't go out, she is 11 so will ask her to bring plenty of stuff to do. I am going to buy lots of ready made pastry and make some pies and freeze them at weekend, cheese and onion is one.

Any ideas on how I can save more money?
I earn £14,500 a year and own my home, no other debt apart from mortgage of £42k and cc £2k and overdraft £550. Am I doing ok?
Have had to stop nights out totally.

Just feeling lonely and pretty tearful today but trying really hard to remain positive.

Souk08

Oh love! Well I'm off today so I'll cheer you up.

Right just looking at that and are you saying you will have £374.14 plus the 550 od to spend this month or am I being thick?

Also, I've just got Plusnet through Quidco which is my home phone and internet all in with free evening and weekend calls for £17 something a month and £20 cashback.

Message back and we'll think of something!

Butterfliesarepretty

Hi souk
No I will be overdrawn by (374.14) so I have up till (550.00) but there could be bank charges added on to that.
I wanted to get the csa arrears paid quicker, its not that I have not paid just that I sent in my updated payslips in october and its a 12 week timescale to calculate so while paying the normal £115.94 a month based on my last salary I may have been underpaying.

they are checking it again and if its incorrect I will get a refund. they have always been good with me. and I am honest with them all the time.

I have just fixed the ball !!!! arm on my toilet so that cheered me up a bit.
My friend owes me £50 but she is far away and is bankrupt so doubt I will get it back.

My gym I can't cancel as its withing 12 months, tried before, and I do go but not lately cause worried about my dad.
I am annoyed about my gas and electric though.
Life ins - do I need it?
My daughter savings - its for her when she is 18.
No pension, got two frozen pensions with two previous employers, one 17 years and one four years.
I used to earn less than this and have enough money.
I have two cats so never bother with pet insurance.
I live alone, nobody visits not even relatives.
Really sick of my life, struggling not getting anywhere and trying to get a better job.

Souk08

Ok so you've got about £175 to live on for the month? (I take it you get paid monthly). How much would you spend on petrol? Could you do your food on £15 a week (look at the OS board for tips, it's amazing). Anything in the house you could sell on ebay, car boot etc?

Butterfliesarepretty

Hi thanks souk,
no nothing of value in the house to sell just books, but already tried. I don't have a lot of personal stuff, not even got enough cds to sell. yes i get paid monthly. i have nothing nice to sell. i have no clothes to sell or anything. my petrol I put a tenner in a week, I live in bury, work in bolton so not far to travel. Need to get a plastic container for milk to take to work with my coffee. Also some ideas for lunches at work. I am trying not to have food at breaks too. I usually make pasta for lunch and a yoghurt.

I have wardrobes falling apart and my chest of drawers too and need new ones.

I may have to apply for another credit card just so I can get to work.
My present tesco cc not had 12 months yet and they won't increase it.

Souk08

Okay so £175 minus £40 per petrol leaves you £135 for everything else. If you can do your food for £15 a week that would leave you £75 for nice things, which I think you need just now lovey. Don't get another card, it's all just got to be paid off.

Deffo go on to the Old Style board and look at the' how to get started' thread but basically you can do it by meal planning and sticking to a food budget (maybe keep it in a seperate purse) and then think about something nice to do with your extra cash. What would make you feel loads better and is cheap i.e having a bath, reading a nice mag, sorting the house, going for a walk/run.

You sound like you think everything is impossible just now hon but it's not. Loads of us on here manage on very little and still have a life. Sarahb is an inspiration to me and she's doing all her food on £20 a week. I manage to eat well and cheaply by doing a big online shop once a month, cooking it up and freezing the rest, taking lunch (soup and a yoghurt) to work and still have a bit left for fun and frolics.

Family being ill is no fun obviously and loads of us have been there too but you just have to sit it out and try and keep as positive as possible. You will get brill help and tips on here. Wish I was closer so I could give you a hug and help you get sorted with your food budgets and stuff. XXX

Butterfliesarepretty

I have put a thread on for help on recipes on o style board now. I don't do big shops as if something comes up and I have no money, say eg my car breaks down or something. I have not even been buying mags, just my chocolate. I can't even relax enough to read a book.

Is there not a book site where I can sell my books?
I'm really scared.
Also have noisy neighbours this weekend to deal with too.
I think sunday I will feel lonely too.

I have been buying lots of super noodles to light dinners or teas.
I love fish too and this month work is supposed tobe going to pizza hut but think I will say no to save money again.
My friend liz is frustrated i am not going out at all, but she has a fella who brings another wage in so she is ok.

Souk08

Why don't you try the £15 a week food budget then if you don't want to do a big shop. This way you could do some nice, healthy meals and still have your money left for nice stuff? Why not get Liz round, tell her how skint you are (that you don't want a loan) but that you would like to see her. Can you have a nice bottle of wine at yours or hers and a chat. That could be all you need to feel a bit better.

Try Green Metropolis to sell your books. It's dead easy!

What are you scared of hon? Could you not see your friend on Sunday, just ask her to come round. I have the girls round loads and it's dead cheap. I'm no Nigella but we take it in turns to do dinner and wine and catch up X

Butterfliesarepretty

Hi thanks but I invited liz round once before and she did not want to come. She has a grandson on weekends and is really not the type to have lots of friends or girlie nights. she is in her fifties.

My other friend spends her weekends with her fella and is not a person who likes lots of girlie company. My best mate lives in newcastle and has a fella too. I used to be able to afford to drive up there some weekends and stay over.

I need some more friends who will want me in their circle. I am outgoing enough not shy at all. just don't meet the right people and that includes fellas. I've never been invited to a girlie night in.

I will try the £15 a week food guide.

Souk08

Hon, it's obviously not you it's your friends! I work loads of weekends so we just do a wee night in the week. Girls go home at 10.30ish and we try not to drink too much so we're all okay for work. (She says!)

Maybe you could meet these friends for coffee out somewhere instead?

Just trying to give you suggestions to make things a wee bit easier during this difficult time X